Improvement in umbrellas



A decreased at another part thereof.

A secured in its place by the putting on of the UNTTEE STATES.

PATENT @Erica sA-MUEL EoX, 0E srocKBEmeE woEKs, DEErcAE, NEAR sHEEEIELD,

ENGLAND. n v

IMPOVEMENT IN UMBRELLAS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent'No. [06,6Si, dated August 23, 1870.

To all whom t may concern..-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL FOX, of Stockbridge Vorks, Deepcar, near Sheffield, in the county of York, England, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, have invented or discovered new and useful Improvements in the Manufacture of Umbrellas and Sunshades or Parasols, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof-that is to say:

This invention relates to improvements in umbrellas and snnshades or parasols, and has for its object to give to an umbrella or sunshade or parasol, when open, a greater spread for a given length of rib, a greater stiffness to resist the action of the wind, and an improved droop or downward curve at the tip or outer ends of the ribs, without at the same time materially increasing the cost of the article. These objects I attain by combining the rib with the middle bit, (to which the end of the stretcher is joined,) and with a strengthening .piece or pieces applied to the rib, so as to diminish its ilexibility and increase its stiffness; also, by combining thc strengthening-piece and theA middle bit with arib that is attened for a portion of its length, so that the flexibility is increased at one part of the length of the rib and As the employment of a middle bit in each of the above combinations enables the rib to be formed of a piece of metal of equal transverse section (but not necessarily oi' the same form) throughout its length, the cost of the article is butslightly increased.

At Figures l and 2 of the drawings hereunto annexed is shown a :mode by which hollow or trough ribs may be strengthened on both sides of the middle bit. Fig. l shows a longitudinal section, on an enlarged scale, of the strengthened rib and the middle bit upon it. Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken through the middle bit and rib. In the arrangement shown by these iigures the trough-rib a is strengthened by a strengthening-piece, b, of a similar trough-section placed within it, and

ordinary middle bit, c. The strengtheningpiece b is hardened and tempered separately from the rib, and after being cleaned it is put into its place in the hollow rib and is secured by the putting on of the middle bit, which is done in the ordinary manner. Each end of the strengthening-piece b is cut off at an angle, as shown at Fig. 3, so that the ends of the strengthening-pieces may never protrude out from the hollows of the ribs. For ribs, say, twenty-six inches long, I 'prefer that the strengthening-piece should extend from the middle bit for about six inches toward the tip of the rib, and for about seven and a half inches toward the end that is jointed to the top notch on the stick. At the same time that the trough-rib is thus strengthened I prefer to open or spread out the sides of the rib at the tip and for about four or five inches, so as to render this part of the rib more flexible. Thus strengthening one part of the rib and making another part to bend more readily, a greater spread for a given length of rib is obtained, together with an improved droop or downward curve at the tip or outer ends of the ribs.

Although in the description above given I have stated the length to which I prefer to form the strengthening-piece, I would have it understood that I do not conne myself to the dimensions given, but that strengtheningpieces of any desired length might be employed.

In place of strengthening the rib on each side ofthe middle bit it might be strengthened on that side only which istoward the tip.

A convenient mode of embodying the invention when a hollow trough-rib is employed is to curve over the sides of the rib somewhat before hardening, as shownin transverse section at Fig. 4, and after the middle bit has been fixed in its place upon the rib to push into the hollow of the rib the strengthening-piece, as shown at Fig. 5, formed of a piece of round wire previously hardened and tempered; or the strengthening-piece. may be inserted into the hollow of therib and secured by closing over the sides of the trough before either is hardened, and then the two may be hardened at one operation, after which the middle bit is secured to the strengtheningrib.

Vhen a trough-rib has been constructed in either of the above modes, I prefer to increase its exibility toward the tip by flattening the or paragon wire passed over it.

rib for a portion of its length, as above described.

IVhen using a solid rib of wire, I strengthen it at such points as are required not to bend so readily as the other parts by embracing it with a tube of an elliptic or other form, which may be hardened and tempered separately from the wire, and be afterward applied to it.

Fig. shows alongitudinal section, and Fig. 7 a transverse section, of a portion of a solid or wire rib so strengthened fora distance from the middle bit toward the tip. The strengthening-piece shown in these figures is similar to an ordinary trou gh-rib, with the sides curved or bent inward at each end or' the strengthening-piece to cause them to embrace the wire rib. This strengthening-piece is hardened and tempered separately, and is by preference slipped onto the rib before the middle bit has been fixed to it, or a solid rib may be strengthened on both sides of the middle bit by trough In this case I prefer to cut away the sides of the strengthening-tube where the middle bit is to be applied, so that the middle bit may be fixed to the wire rib in the ordinary manner; or in order t0 strengthen parts of wire ribs which require strengthening they may be made deeper at the parts which require strengthening, and such parts may be embraced by a strengthening-tube -to maintain them in their proper position, as well as to increase the stiffness; but such embracing-tube need not in all cases be employed. Then thus strengthening apart or parts of solid ribs, other parts of the rib which it is desired to make to bend more readily may be flattened in the direction toredu ce its depth, and by such combination of strengthening and weakening different parts of the same rib greater spread, greater stiffness, and an improved droop of the tip ends of the ribs may be obtained. The mode I prefer for making these ribs deeper at one part and reducing their depth at another part is by passing them between rolls.

Fig. 8 shows a transverse section, and Fig. 9 a side view, of part of a solid wire rib thus strengthened for a distance on each side ofthe middle bit by making such parts ofthe rib deeper by .HatYt-ening, and such flattened portions on each side of the middle bit are embraced, as shown, by an elliptical tube, b, which not only helps to keep the fiattened rib in its proper position, but also itself increases the stiffness.

Although I have only described modes of strengthening two sections of ribs, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the strengthening of such sections of ribs.

Having thus described the several modes in which I have contemplated the application of the principle of my invention, I declare that I am aware that it has been proposed to vary the elasticity of the ribs of umbrellas by making them of tapering form; but this inodeis objectionable, on account of the cost of producing the taper.

I am also aware that it has been proposed to construct the ribs so as to form lips of the metal of the rib for the purpose of receiving the pivot of the stretcher, and to strengthen such lipped ribs by means of a strengtheningpiece combined in such manner with the lipped rib that the forks of the stretcher intervene between the strengthening-piece and the rib. This construction, however, is practically useless on account ofthe cost of making the lipped ribs, whereas in my system the cost of construction is moderate, because the employment of a middle bit (made of a separate piece from the rib) to receive the pivot of the stretcher enables the rib to be formed of a piece of uniform size throughout its length.

What, therefore, I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination of the rib, the strengthening-piece, and the middle bit, all these parts being constructed to operate in combination, as hereinbefore set forth.

2. The combination of the strengtheningpiece and the middle bit, with a rib fiattened for aportion of its length, so as to afford greater flexibility, as hereinbefore set forth.

SAML. FOX. NVitnesses:

BENJ. BURDEKIN, Jr.,

Solr., Sheeld. SAML. B. AUTY,

Law Clerk, Shefield. 

